Electrical controlling device



Dec. 30, 1969 w c, JQRDAN 3,487,180

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed July 13, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR WILMEZ. C. JQRDAN A'TTORNEY Dec. 30, 1969 w. c. JORDAN 3,487,180

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed July 155. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILMER C JORDAN ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1969 w. 0. JORDAN ELECTRICAL CONTROLLING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 13, 1966 INVENTOR WILMER C. JORDAN M A? HT? RNEY 1 United States Patent 3,487,180 ELECTRECAL CONTROLLING DEVICE Wilmer C. Jordan, 2520 S. 18th Ave., llroadview, Ill. 60153 Filed July 13, 1966, Ser. No. 564,874 Int. 'Cl. H0111 7/08, 43/10 US. Cl. ZOO-38 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Electrical controlling apparatus in which a first contact is driven at a constant speed along a certain path from an intial position to a final position to sequentially engage a plurality of additional contacts each of which is supported for infinitely adjustable positional movement to allow exact timing of the instant of contact between the first contact and each of the additional contacts relative to the time in which the first contact leaves the initial position.

This invention is directed to automatic electric devices for controlling a plurality of separate work-performing mechanisms which are adapted to intermittently and successively energize the separate electrically driven devices at intervals and for varied periods of time as required for each work device to perform and complete its particular functions and work.

It is an important object of my invention to provide an electrically actuated device having a clock motor and a driven contacting arm or lever and a plurality of spacedapart substantially aligned electrical terminal members, wherein said terminal members are adapted to be successively contacted by said driven arm to successively and separately close a series of circuits which control 7 two or more separate work-performing members to which the work is successively subjected, said electrical terminals being adjustably mounted to provide for changing their relative positions in the paths of movement of said driven contact arm so as to provide for energization of each of the electrical work units for pre-determined periods of time and at desired and varied spaced apart intervals.

In numerous manufacturing methods and processes a product or particularly manufactured products, whether physical or chemical, are successively subjected to a series or cycle of work steps, which steps are usually performed for a wide range of intervals, the intervals and periods of performance of the relative steps being varied to meet the requirements of particular manufacturing processes. Illustrations of such steps are drilling, milling, tapping, countersinking and grinding. The mechanisms, usually electrically driven, which perform the relative steps are each normally electrically connected to varying forms of switches and relays, some of which are of automatic types, and the assembly and building of relatively complete control mechanisms adapted to selectively and successively actuate the work-performing devices and mechanisms have been relatively expensive and timeconsuming and in many instances of inefficient performance. Accordingly, there exists the problem of building, assembling, and electrically connecting and mounting of a plurality of controlling units and cooperating circuits and switches which are adapted to energize different work-performing mechanisms at different times in a cycle, which have the object of automatically working a material or product quickly and easily in a series of manufacturing or treatment steps. Assembly and mounting of presently known control devices for performing cycles of work for desired time durations are both expensive and difficult.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an electrically driven control device substantially as recited in the preceding paragraph and which includes electrically actuated relays for a microswitch and a magnetic coil and circuits connecting the foregoing and an electrical contact switch in the main electrical circuit of said clock motor and a cam mounted on the shaft of said clock motor which is adapted to intermittently close said micro switch to close a separate circuit which automatically returns said contact arm of said clock motor to starting position after a cycle of work performing steps have been completed.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrical controlling device as recited in the preceding paragraphs whch includes a driven contact arm having roller means on the end thereof, and releasable adjustable fastening and mounting means for a plurality of spaced apart terminal contact members providing for easy repositioning and moving said members to meet the operation time requirements of electrical driven work units, and automatic means for returning the contacting arm to starting positions.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of my electrical timing and controlling device.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view thereof looking at the left side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view with parts broken away taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the rotatable contact arm with its journalled roller.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical wiring circuits to the respective parts of the device shown.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the driven cam and a part of the motor driven shaft on which it is mounted.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line 77 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the driven sprocket and other adjacent parts.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a modified form of a substantial circular non-conductive mounting track on which the respective contact terminal members may be mounted in selected adjustable spaced relation.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of mounting track on which the contract terminal members are adapted to be mounted.

As shown on the drawings:

Numeral 10 designates a substantially flat face plate or mounting plate of rigid non-conductive material, which has a plurality of apertures therein and has mounted adjacent its inner face a metal plate 9. Said plates 10 and 9 have connected to same in spaced relation a metal apertured back plate 11 by means of a plurality of threaded metal pins 12 whose rear ends are press fitted or riveted into holes in said back plate 11 respectively. The forward portions of said connecting pins 12 have threaded end recesses therein and screws 13 extend through holes in mounting plate 10 and plate 9 and thread into said recesses to thereby hold said back plate 11 and plate 9 substantially parallel to face plate 10.

An electric motor 14 is secured by screws to the back face of plate 11, as shown in FIG. 2, and same drives a gear 15 secured on one end of a horizontal shaft 16 which is journalled in plate 11. Shaft 15 has mounted on its inner end portion a cam 17, as shown in FIG. 6, and a metal apertured flanged coupling 18. A second flanged coupling member 19 has mounted on its hub portion a radially extending metal stop arm 20 and said second coupling member 19 is connected to said first coupling member 18 by metal pins 21.

A metal spring 16a is mounted under tension about shaft 16 With one end anchored in a hole in plate 11 and its inner end connected to cam 17, Said spring exerts rotative force to return cam 17 and stop arm 20 to starting position on completion of a cycle.

A forward shaft 22 journalled in a bearing in plate has said second coupling secured to it and also has secured on it a gear wheel 23 adjacent said plate 10 and has adjustably secured on its outer end portion a metal hub 24. An apertured contact arm 25 has one end thereof adjustably secured by a screw 26 to hub 24. The outer end portion of contact arm 25 has a metal roller or disk member 27 journalled on it.

While motor 14 may be a conventional electric motor, an electroc clock motor has been found to be satisfactory. Reference hereinafter to clock motor is to encompass other forms of motors.

A metal longitudinally splined setting shaft or screw 28 is journalled in aligned holes in front plate 10 and in back plate 11 and has a knurled head 29 secured on its outer portion. A screw-bearing metal collar 30 is secured on said screw 28 inside of plate 11 and a spring washer 31 and a metal collar 32 are secured on the end portion of said setting screw 28 so that said washer produces tension and friction to releasably hold said setting screw 28 in desired pre-set position. Said setting screw meshes with and rotates gear 23, shaft 24 and contact arm 25 to set said arm in the desired starting position. Manual rotation of head 29 and screw 28 permits setting of gear wheel 23 and pin 41 to desired starting position of the contact arm 25 according to the first step desired.

Numeral 33 designates a metal angular spring-like electrical contact arm which is secured by a screw 34 to plate 10 and its free end engages and contacts the screw 26. A circuit wire 60 connects screw 34 to the plus terminal of transformer 46.

The non-conductive front plate 10 has formed in it a track or arcuate or substantially circular slot or forwardly opening recess 35, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Each of the movable adjustably positioned, terminal and contact members 36 are releasably secured in varying spaced positions along and adjacent said circular slot 35 by a screw or bolt 37 whose head is countersunk in an enlarged recess merging with slot 35, as illustrated in FIG. 3. A nut 38 and expansion spring 39 are mounted on each of said bolts 37 as shown in FIG. 3, said spring exerting tension to hold each bolt and contact member 36 in set position as desired. One end of each metal contact member is bent angularly and threaded and a wire connecting screw 40 is threaded into same to secure one end of the electrical circuit wire extending to it.

As shown in FIG. 2 driven gear wheel 23 has secured on its periphery a perpendicular stop stud or pin 41 which is contacted by the outer part of stop arm when the contact arm has completed its cycle of movements and when gear 23 has moved to normal starting position.

Numeral 42 is an electrical switch secured to the back plate 11 and same is held normally in closed position to keep normally closed during one cycle of movement of the contact arm the circuit to relay 52 from the power source and to the motor 14, said relay being normally held in energized position.

Said switch 42 is adapted to be engaged by the outer part of driven cam 17 to cause opening of said switch 42 when the outer part of said cam bosses the contact member of said switch. This de-energizes relay 43 and opens the circuit controlled by it to cause a return of stop arm 20 until it contacts stud 41 and at such time the cycle of the usual rotation of the contact arm again begins.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the respective contact terminal members 36 are quickly and easily set in desired positions so that the interval of operation of each energized workproducing mechanism will be for the desired time. When the contact arm 25 progresses to contact the next terminal member in its path of movement, the electrical circuit through the previous contact member is terminated and the operation of the work mechanism connected to it is stopped.

As illustrated in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5, a circuit wire 44 connects the positive of a power source to normally open switch 43, and wire 45 connects switch 43 to relay 52 and transformer 46.

A wire 47 connects transformer 46 to an electric air valve 48 and to one of the terminal contact members 36. Each of the remaining terminal contact members 36 is connected by a wire 49 leading to and through an electric air valve 50 to circuit wire 47, one of which is illustrated at the right of FIG. 5. Wire 47a connects valve 48 to member 36.

As shown in FIG. 5, a circuit wire 51 connects the negative of a power source to relay 52. A wire 53 connects one terminal of relay 52 to transformer 46.

A wire 54 connects relay 52 to the motor 14.

The other terminal of the motor 14 is connected by wire 55 to a relay contact 59, which said contact 59 is connected by wire 56 to micro-switch 57. A wire 58 connects switch 43 to micro-switch 57.

The positive terminal of transformer 46 is connected by a wire 60 to spring tension bar 33 and which bar contacts screw 26.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, I illustrative a substantially circular or arcuate track of non-conductive material of substantially I cross section and having apertured base flanges 66 through which are mounted bolts or screws 67 which secure said track on. one face of the base plate 10. Said track or rail 65 has an integral flanged head 68. The releasably fastening elements each comprise a pair of angular metal apertured clips or clamps 69 whose inner end portions engage the track 65 and its head 68, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The projecting portion of one of said clips has a metal contact arm 70 and a wire terminal screw 71 to which a circuit wire is connected.

Said clips or clamps 69 have aligned holes therein in which a connecting bolt 71 is mounted with a metal expansion spring 72 mounted about said bolt between said clips as illustrated in FIG. 9.

It will be understood that the respective contact terminal members, as illustrated, may be quickly and easily moved and positioned and secured at the desired spaced apart points to accord with the desired time of energization interval of each of the electrically driven work performing mechanisms in a selected cycle of steps.

In FIG. 10 I have illustrated a fragment or section of a modified form of arcuate securing rail or track of substantially T-shaped cross section, said arcuate track having a flanged base portion 72 and an integral web or rib 73. In said arcuate track, of substantially circular shape similar to that illustrated in FIG. 8, the projecting web 73 has formed thereon a plurality of spaced apart slots 74 which are narrower in their upper portions as illustrated. Metal terminal contact members 75, which is substantially equivalent to the terminal contact members 36, are adapted to be quickly and easily pressed and impinged into positions in said slots 75 respectively so that their headed contact end portions 76 extend inwardly to normally lie in an arcuate or circular path.

The shank portion of each of said terminal contact member 75 and a suitable bolt or screw 76 secured thereon to which circuit wires such as wires 47 and 49 are connected respectively.

Said non-conductive arcuate holding rails or tracks illustrated in FIG. 10 are adapted to he quickly and easily secured by a plurality of screws 77 to plate 10 so that said holding track defines a substantially circular path.

The normal operation is as follows: Manual closing normally open switch 43 causes relay 52 to receive an elective impulse, which causes said relay to continually stay energized, and causing contact arm 25 to start in a rotating cycle. As said contact arm moves forward its roller or end portion contacts successively the respective spaced apart terminal members 36.

As each such contact member 36 is contacted by said arm 25, it closes the circuit to such contact arm and to the work performing unit to which is connected. Such contact and operation of the connected work unit continues until the moving contact arm 25 contacts the next succeeding terminal contact in the cycle. Thereupon the electrical air valve is actuated to give an impulse to the other terminal of the air valve, to work permitting unit to stop operation or return to its original position. The distance between two adjacent terminal contact members thereby controls the period of operation of the work unit.

As the rotating contact arm 25 breaks contact with the particular terminal member whose circuit stops the previous work performing unit and when said arm 25 contacts the next terminal contact 36 in the cycle, a circuit from such next contact 36 is closed to energize the second or subsequent work performing unit. Such latter unit will continue operation until its circuit is opened by contact by said arm of the next terminal contact member.

The operation of subsequent work units is started and stopped after a preset interval in the same manner as above described.

After the respective intermittent closings and openings of said circuits to the respective work performing units, the cam 17, which has been pre-set for the total time of all of the work operations, will have been rotated to a position to open the normally closed switch 57.

This switch opening causes a de-energizing of relay 52, which discontinues electrical current to motor 14 and transformer 46. Thereupon spring 16, being mounted to normally tend to rotate said shaft to starting position, will cause the motor shaft and contact arm 25 to move to starting position, and which returning movement is stopped by engagement of radial arm 20 striking the stop pin 41.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter, and it is contemplated that various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof.

I claim:

1. In a device for controlling the successive operation of a plurality of work-performing electrically driven mechanisms;

a constant speed electrical motor;

a mounting plate on which said motor is mounted,

said motor having a driven shaft and a metal contact arm on one end of said shaft;

a cam mounted on the normally rear portion of said shaft;

a circuit wire electrically connecting said motor shaft with an electrical power source;

a plurality of metal terminal contacts adjustably mounted in spaced relation with said electrical motor and in positions adapted to be contacted by said contact arm;

each of said terminal contacts being adjustably positioned relative to the other of said terminal contacts and being electrically connectable to separate workperforming devices respectively;

switch means electrically connected in circuit with said motor and with a power source;

said cam being adapted to intermittently operate said switch means once during each revolution of said contact arm to thereby return said contact arm to original starting position.

2. A control device as recited in claim 1 and having a separate electrical circuit connecting each of said terminal contacts with one work performing mechanism;

the said terminal contacts having releasable means for selectively securing the same in spaced positions to provide for successive energization and operation of each of such work performing mechanisms for the desired time interval.

3. A controlling device substantially as recited in claim 1 and having a conductive roller journalled on the outer end portion of said arm.

4. A device for controlling work performance mechanism substantially as described in claim 1 in which said mounting plate has a non-conductive arcuate track thereon, and in which said terminal contacts are releasably and adjustably mounted in spaced relation along said arcuate track.

5. A controlling device for electrically driven mechanisms substantially as recited in claim 1, in which said mounting plate has an arcuate recess therein; and wherein said terminal contacts are adjustably mounted in said recess; and having releasably fastening elements connecting said terminal contacts relative to the arcuate recess of said plate.

6. In an electrical controlling device for controlling a plurality of electrically driven work performing devices;

a clock motor;

a panel having an arcuate guid recess;

journalled co-axial shafts driven by said motor;

a coupling member connecting said shafts;

a gear wheel on one of said shafts;

a stud secured on and projecting on one portion of said gear wheel;

a contact arm connected to said shafts;

a non-conductive mounting plate;

a plurality of metal contact terminals removably and adjustably mounted on said mounting plate along said recess;

releasable fastening elements connecting said terminals to said mounting plate, each of said contact terminals having electrical connections to an electrically driven mechanism;

electrical switch means for automatically returning said am to original starting position after completion of a cycle of movements;

manually adjustable means including a radial arm connected to said shafts for pre-setting the return and starting positions of said contact arm, said radial arm being adapted to engage said stud;

connecting means for mounting each of said contact terminals in an arcuate path along said slot;

a contacting by said contact arm with each of said contact terminals being adapted to close a separate electrical circuit to a single work performing mechanism and to energize each of said mechanisms separately until said contact arm is moved to a position to engage another of said contact terminals.

7. In a device for controlling the successive operation of a plurality of work-performing electrically driven mechanisms;

a constant speed electrical motor;

a shaft driven by said motor;

a mounting plate on which said motor is mounted, said motor having a metal contact arm secured on one end of said shaft;

a cam mounted on the normally rear portion of said shaft;

an arcuate track having projecting flanges and secured to and projecting from said mounting plate;

circuit wires and a metal arm electrically connecting said motor shaft with an electrical power source;

a plurality of metal terminal contacts adjustably and releasably mounted in spaced relation on said track and in positions adapted to be contacted by said contact arm;

each of said terminal contacts having a pair of metal clips engaging said track and having a projecting contact portion and being adjustably positioned relative to the other of said terminal contacts and having electrical connections to separate work-performing devices respectively;

and switch means electrically connected in circuit with said motor;

said cam being adapted to intermittently operate said switch means once during each revolution of said contact arm to thereby return said contact arm to original starting position.

8. A device for controlling a plurality of electrically driven work performing mechanisms substantially as recited in claim 7 in which said arcuate track has integral flanges projecting outwardly from said mounting plate, said terminal contacts being adjustably secured along said track, each of said terminal contacts having a projecting portion adapted to be contacted by said arm.

9. In an electrical controlling device, a first contact, first supporting means supporting said first contact for movement along a predetermined path, drive means for effecting movement of said first contact along said path from an initial position to a final position, said drive means being operable to move said first contact at a substantially constant speed, a plurality of additional contacts arranged to be sequentially engaged by said first contact during movement of said first contact along said predetermined path from said initial position to said final position, second supporting means supporting each of said additional contacts for infinitely adjustable positionable movement along said predetermined path to allow exact timing of the instant of contact between said first contact and each of said additional contacts relative "to the time at which said first contact leaves said initial position, said second supporting means for said additional contacts comprising a fixed member, a pair of frictional lock means for each of said additional contacts arranged on opposite sides of a portion of said fixed member, and spring means arranged to urge said pair of frictional lock means toward each other to frictionally and clampingly engage said portion of said fixed member, said fixed member having a slot therein, a shank portion connected at one end to one of said frictional lock means and extending through said slot and the other of said frictional lock means, and abutment means on the opposite end of said shank portion, said spring means comprising a coiled compression spring on said shank portion between said abutment means and said other of said frictional lock means.

10. In an electrical controlling device as defined in claim 9, said portion of said fixed member comprising a common guide rail extending between said pair of frictional lock means for each and all of said additional contacts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,689,833 10/1928 Kesses 200-37 2,690,800 10/1954- Ross. 2,784,266 3/1957 Krahulec 200-25 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner H. J. HOHAUSER, Assistant Examiner 

